FOUR BIG GAMES WILL DEFINE STOKE’S SEASON, SAYS COACH
CHRIS Rowley insists his in-form Stoke team are heading into a pivotal part of their season.
Stoke have enjoyed a flying start to the Midlands One season with nine successive wins leaving them in second place in the table.
All is rosy in the garden at present, but head coach Rowley says the next month will go a long way to shaping their campaign.
Stoke take a break from league action tomorrow night when they head to Burton - who play in the Midlands Premier - in the semifinals of the Staffordshire Cup.
And that is followed by three league matches which will test Stoke’s resolve.
A trip to Hereford kicks off a run of games including meetings with fellow high-fliers Lichfield and Kenilworth.
“We seem to play Burton every year in the cup, but although they have had a difficult time in the league (losing seven out of nine) they will still be favourites because they play in the league above,” said Rowley.
“It’s a good game for us because we’re playing a higher-ranked team and it will show us where we are at.
“The players know it’s a massive four weeks for us. At the end of these games it will be a fair reflection about what we can achieve this year.
“Hereford is always a difficult place to go, while Lichfield and Kenilworth are up at the top end with us.
“It’s going to be a tough month, a crunch month, and one which will probably define our season.
“We have had a relatively kind fixture list up to now, so it’s good to be heading into these games with a bit of momentum behind us.”
Stoke continued their unbeaten start to the league season last weekend with a 63-6 home demolition of Droitwich.
The visitors had taken the lead through an early penalty, but once Stoke hit their stride, they proved to be unstoppable.
In fact, they produced some exhilarating expansive rugby as they ran in tries at will, but Rowley says they can’t expect to be able to play in that style in the coming weeks.
“We’re in a really good place and when you are winning games it breeds confidence,” he added. “There is a buzz at the club at the minute, but everyone is on the same page in terms of focusing on what is in front of us.
“Droitwich tired in the second half and their heads went down, so we enjoyed it. But it’s going to be the last time we can probably play like that for a while.
“At this time of year the conditions dictate how you can play, but one of the benefits we’ve seen this season is how our set-piece has improved.”
The rise in standards up front can partly be attributed to the arrival of Aly Muldowney as forwards coach.
Muldowney played for Exeter Chiefs and Bristol Bears in the top flight of English rugby - and his friendship with Rowley has provided a huge boost to Stoke.
“It’s worked really well having Aly in. He’s an old friend of mine,” explained Rowley.
“He has got lots of top-level knowledge and he’s not really changed a great deal, he’s just added detail.
“Aly has sharpened us up and it’s noticeable that we’re now scoring catch-and-drive tries and look more of a threat.
“In the past we have perhaps had parity in the scrum, but now we have it as a weapon, so it’s good to have another string to our bow.
“The boys have really warmed to him and it’s good for me that if I do have to play, then we have another coach on the sidelines.”
Stoke will make the trip to Burton with a few players unavailable either because of injury or because they are cup tied.
“The team has kind of picked itself,” added Rowley.
“So we will go there predominantly with the side which has been playing in the league.”
· ON Saturday, NEWCASTLE host UTTOXETER in Midlands Two West North.